An intruder hit a man on the head with a brick after breaking into his home. He struck at about 1.50am today at the victim's home in Bolsin Drive, Colchester. After the attack, the man was taken to hospital by ambulance with a head injury but police said
A businessman told how he was left bloodied by a random beating. Craig Rimmer, 29, of Partridge Green, Pitsea, was on his way home from work when he was set upon by eight yobs who tried to grab his briefcase. In the past year, Mr Rimmer has been threatened
Corringham runner Danny Crates begins his bid for Paralympic gold tomorrow - and pupils at his old school will be watching him every step of the way. Former Gable Hall School student Crates takes to the track in Athens for the 800m heats tomorrow, when
SOUTHEND United striker Drewe Broughton is hoping to start for the Shrimpers against his former Kidderminster Harriers side this weekend. The 25-year-old forward has endured a frustrating start to the season but is hoping to reap the rewards of his hard
Patients across Billericay and Wickford will be able to take advantage of a new out-of-hours medical care service being launched next week. The new provisions, according to the Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford Primary Care Trust (PCT), will allow patients
Youngsters are showing no signs of tiring of bright new play equipment installed by Rochford District Council at sites across the area. Contractors worked non-stop to finish a £100,000 refurbishment programme of work at six of the district's playspaces
Supermarket giant Tesco has lost an appeal to build a convenience store in the heart of a residential area in Colchester. The plans to build the store on the junction of Maldon and Drury roads in Colchester had been opposed by many residents, who packed
A barn on the site of a business could soon be converted into a home, thanks to the support of Stisted parish council. John Clark, of Stisted parish council's planning committee, successfully opposed Braintree council's officers' recommendation to refuse
A portly pooch whose favourite treat was a full English breakfast has lost almost a third of his own body weight after vets put him on a strict diet. Tux the Dalmation ballooned to a whopping ten stones after a lifetime of delicious leftovers and late
A couple have told how they cheated death when a hurricane struck their hotel during a holiday from hell. Martin Rickards, 41, and Emma Jeacock, 26, booked the trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to celebrate their engagement. It was Miss Jeacock's
SOUTHEND Athletic Club were given a major boost for next year's centenary celebrations when they won a place in the British Athletics League for the first time ever. After an unequalled season of six victories - beating a total of 25 other clubs - to
Corringham runner Danny Crates begins his bid for Paralympic gold tomorrow - and pupils at his old school will be watching him every step of the way. Former Gable Hall School student Crates takes to the track in Athens for the 800m heats tomorrow, when
A school has scooped a top PE gong. Picture: SEANA HUGHES Highwoods Community Primary School in Colchester has picked up an Activemark Gold award from Sport England. The certificate, which has been awarded to less than 200 primary schools up and down
A gang dubbed the Notorious Nine were released from HMP Bullwood Hall at Hockley after spending a day behind bars. Essex Police deputy chief constable Charles "the Enforcer" Clark had been sentenced to prison, along with Bishop of Chelmsford John Gladwin
Stansted airport's owners have launched a consultation on a compensation scheme for residents affected by aircraft noise. BAA wants to develop a voluntary scheme to provide insulation for "noise-sensitive buildings" such as schools and hospitals, at Stansted
Dynamic Daphne Saitch, the pride of Basildon Ladies Golf Club after some great successes, did it again with a triumphant performance on the Eden Course at the home of golf, St Andrews. Playing in the finals of the National Association of Public Golf Courses
Children at a Stanford-le-Hope school had to miss two days of lessons after more than £15,000 worth of damage was caused by flooding. A clear-up is still under way at Arthur Bugler Junior School, St James's Avenue East, after the ballcock on one of the
SOUTHEND United striker Drewe Broughton is hoping to start for the Shrimpers against his former Kidderminster Harriers side this weekend. The 25-year-old forward has endured a frustrating start to the season but is hoping to reap the rewards of his hard
Traffic queues of up to eight miles built up on the A12 at Colchester today after a lorry jackknifed. In the way - the jackknifed lorry and the car after the accident on the A12. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN The articulated lorry crashed into a barrier as it
Police have warned people to be wary of a scam in which thieves work in pairs to steal mobile phones or purses from victims. The warning follows a number of incidents within the last three months in Billericay and Basildon. During the most recent incident
A family has been emotionally reunited after more than 50 years - thanks to the Evening Gazette. Johanna Lund lost touch with her Colchester roots when a family rift saw her move to Lancashire as a little girl. But yesterday her newly-found north Essex
Motorists were warned of severe disruption as engineers begin work to improve gas supplies to homes and businesses in the Palmeira Avenue area of Westcliff. The first phase of roadworks, which will involve replacing existing gas mains with modern plastic
A CARE home has been criticised for its treatment of elderly patients following an inquiry into the deaths of three residents. The independent investigation into the privately run Whitecroft home in Stanford Road, Orsett, was ordered after some residents
Warnings are being issued to youngsters after an 11-year old boy was involved in a collision with a car in Maldon. Paramedics have said the boy, who has not been named, had a "lucky escape" following the accident outside the town's police station, in
DYNAMIC Daphne Saitch, the pride of Basildon Ladies Golf Club after some great successes, did it again with a triumphant performance on the Eden Course at the home of golf, St Andrews. Playing in the finals of the National Association of Public Golf Courses
Police have launched a hunt for a gang responsible for a spate of thefts from lorries totalling more than £70,000. In the last three months organised thieves have pulled off more than five raids on industrial estates in Basildon and Grays. In most cases
Doggetts regular Ian Simmons landed the heaviest mirror carp ever pulled out of the Rochford lake. During ideal conditions and using his own bait and rigs Simmons hooked the 32.5lb fish within feet of the bank. The first run took 70-yards of line, crossing
Southend United striker Drewe Broughton is hoping to start for the Shrimpers against his former Kidderminster Harriers side this weekend. The 25-year-old forward has endured a frustrating start to the season but is hoping to reap the rewards of his hard
WEST Ham United were handed a 5-1 reserve team thrashing by Chelsea - then sent to play their first team in the Carling Cup. The second-string suffered a dismal home defeat against a side which included former Hammer Glen Johnson last night. Mark Noble
A school has revealed £3million plans for a prestigious sports academy as part of a package to remove it from the Government's special measures list. The Thorpe Bay School in Southend wants to build a £1.8million cycle track to become a regional centre
Doggetts regular Ian Simmons landed the heaviest mirror carp ever pulled out of the Rochford lake. During ideal conditions and using his own bait and rigs Simmons hooked the 32.5lb fish within feet of the bank. The first run took 70-yards of line, crossing
Police have warned people to be wary of a scam in which thieves work in pairs to steal mobile phones or purses from victims. The warning follows a number of incidents within the last three months in Billericay and Basildon. During the most recent incident
Phoenix Martial Arts School continue to make their presence felt on the world stage. The club, based at Kingsway Hall, Dovercourt, scooped two awards at the World Kickboxing Association (WKA) Championships in Basel, Switzerland. Jordan Harvey, daughter
A youth centre could soon be given a facelift to improve the facilities it provides. If it all goes ahead, Green Lodge in Old Road, Clacton, will be refurbished and remodelled through a substantial amount of capital funding from Essex County Council.
A shopkeeper has said his wife could have been killed during an attempted ram raid at their store today. Steve Jeggo, owner of Weavers and Jeggo Spar Store, in Masefield Road, Braintree, was speaking after raiders repeatedly smashed a car against the
Colchester United ace Kevin Watson has warned upcoming Carling Cup opponents Southampton they could suffer the same fate as fellow Premiership club West Bromwich Albion. Ready for the Saints - U's ace Kevin Watson Giant-killing U's were handed a third-round
An Essex professor is to receive a prestigious award. Prof Maurice Kimmitt, of the Physics Centre at Essex University, is the second UK scientist to receive the Kenneth J Button Prize. He will attend the 29th International Conference on Infra-red and
RECRUITMENT to all but essential jobs on Thurrock Council has been frozen as ruling Tories say they have launched a major drive to deliver better value for money and improved services for Thurrock residents. Managing Director David White, council leader
STEVE Higgins made it a quartet of Leigh & Westcliff men's singles tennis titles on Sunday. The Rayleigh player defeated Leigh's Paul Gardiner 6-4 7-6 to take the silverware for the fourth year runnings. But Higgins' bid for a fourth men's doubles
A girl has agreed to have her highlights removed to avoid being kicked out of Southend's Cecil Jones High School. Kirstie Holmes got the red and blond highlights on her 12th birthday on August 7, but her school is insisting she has them removed because
JACKIE Smith has had ten babies, but only six of them call her mum. The other four were surrogate children - and the Tilbury mother may even be pregnant with her fifth. But the surrogate children are not completely out of her life. In fact, she is being
Fancy a flutter on the Grand National? The mascot version that is. She's off - Anna Girling is ready for a mascot version of the Grand National. Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE (38260-1) Brave Anna Girling will be put through her paces in a Hungry Horse pub
A champion water skier suffered back and neck injuries in a high-speed accident. Dave Sewell, 26, of Dunmow, was being towed by a boat at speeds of up to 80mph on Lake Windermere when the incident happened on Saturday afternoon. He was airlifted to Furness
An anonymous benefactor has warmed the hearts of Scouts after thieves stole all the fuel needed to heat their headquarters. Thorpe Scouts were left in the cold when more than 1,500 litres of oil needed to heat their hut was taken. But after reading of
Halstead Town's seven-match unbeaten run came to a dramatic end at Histon Reserves last night as they lost 3-1 and had two men sent-off. Gino Defeo and Andy Head were red-carded in the controversial Ridgeons League premier division game. Halstead fell
A new centre in mid-Essex for patients with life-threatening illnesses has been given a massive cash boost. A cheque for £100,000 has been presented to Farleigh in support of the hospice planned for a site close to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford. The
West Ham United were handed a 5-1 reserve team thrashing by Chelsea - then sent to play their first team in the Carling Cup. The second-string suffered a dismal home defeat against a side which included former Hammer Glen Johnson last night. Mark Noble
Rail operator c2c has dramatically improved the punctuality of its trains, new figures out today revealed. The firm, which runs services between Shoebury and London, has seen 6.7 per cent more trains running on time over the past year, according to a
A keen Heybridge athlete who has run the London Marathon is attempting the New York version this year with her younger brother. Rosie Buckley, of Heymeads Court, will run 26 miles through the city's five boroughs on November 7, having completed the London
Britain's sailors - including West Mersea ace Hannah Stodel - will finish outside the medals at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. The Sonar crew of Stodel, John Robertson (Sunderland) and Stephen Thomas (Bridgend) finished tenth in race seven of the series
